CCNA :: Part 5 - IP Routing - RIPv2

RIP Version 2 (RIPv2)

Just to mention it. RIP version 2 is mostly the same as RIP version 1. Both RIPv1 and RIPv2 are distance-vector protocols, which means that each router running RIP sends its complete routing tables out all active interfaces at periodic time intervals. Also, the timers and loop-avoidance schemes are the same in both RIP versions-i.e., holddown timers and split horizon rule. Both RIPv1 and RIPv2 are configured as classful addressing, (but RIPv2 is considered classless because subnet information is sent with each route update), and both have the same administrative distance (120).

But there are some important differences that make RIPv2 more scalable than RIPv1. And I’ve got to add a word of advice here before we move on; I’m definitely not advocating using RIP of either version in your network. But since RIP is an open standard, you can use RIP with any brand of router. You can also use OSPF, since OSPF is an open standard as well. RIP just requires too much bandwidth, making it pretty intensive to use in your network. Why go there when you have other, more elegant options?

RIP v1	RIPv2
Distance vector	Distance vector
Maximum hop count of 15	Maximum hop count of 15
Classful	Classless
No support for VLSM	Supports VLSM networks
No support for discontiguous networks	Supports discontiguous networks

RIPv2, unlike RIPv1, is a classless routing protocol (even though it is configured as classful, like RIPv1), which means that it sends subnet mask information along with the route updates. By sending the subnet mask information with the updates, RIPv2 can support Variable Length Subnet Masks (VLSMs) as well as the summarization of network boundaries.

The configuration is preaty simple:

R1#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
R1(config)#router rip
R1(config-router)#network 10.0.0.0
R1(config-router)#version 2